Mount for No.32 Houghton Butcher Mk II Scope?

[Roger Payne]

I would concur with Lance re the bracket, it is by no means typical in its looks. In fact I thought it was one of mine for a moment! The transition from Mk1 to Mk2 in HBMCo production was in the 11,000's & I suspect yours must be a very early Mk2. If this is the case it would probably date to around Spring/early Summer 1943 mfr.

The C prefix on the bracket most certainly would relate to a 1944 BSA. You mentioned that the rifle was a dead loss apart from the receiver & body pads.......well, if you don't mind a rebuild project you've got the really crucial bits! Was the bolt salvageable? I ask because it would be nice to keep that if it's matching.......It all sounds like a great little refub project to me. Are you going to do it?

ATB

Information

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[gsthreeeight]

Thank you for your comments and observations.

The donor rifle was in sad shape. The barrel had been sawn off behind the front sight and dressed with a file. The forestock was chopped off just behind the first barrel band. There were no upper hand guards. The butt plate was missing. The butt stock had been sanded to the extent that the S51 stamp was barely legible. The bore looked like the inside of an old water pipe. I sold it at a gun show for the value of the receiver and scope tabs as I lack the skills as well as the interest in completing a refurb/rebuild. The bolt and receiver were in remarkably good condition considering the rest of the rifle and had matching numbers, but they did not match the number on the scope mount.

The scope and mount presently reside on a 1942 Savage No4 Mk1*(T) that I located in a pawn shop in Austin, TX. The pair seem to get along well. After setting the windage to "0" and the elevation to "1", the first round of HXP ball struck the target approximately 12" below and 1.5" to the right of the POA at 100yds. Speaks well of the quality and consistency of the craftsmen at Holland and Holland.

The rifle will be the subject of my next post.

If any further information surfaces regarding scope mounts and their markings, I would greatly appreciate hearing about it.